Northrop Grumman Programs Enhance Viper Survivability, Lethality

Northrop Grumman’s two programs, IVEWS (Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite) and SABR AESA (Scalable Agile Beam Radar – Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar together give the F-16 Fighting Falcon, also referred to as the Viper, powerful capabilities that provide unequalled survivability and lethality.

The radar and electronic warfare systems of fighter jets use the radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum for surveillance, targeting, and self-protection. Northrop Grumman designed the F-16’s IVEWS and SABR AESA radar to work together seamlessly from the beginning. This design enables the two systems to utilize the same area of the spectrum simultaneously.

As IVEWS is scanning to protect the aircraft, it does not filter, blank, or reduce the radar’s capabilities. The two systems communicate on a pulse-to-pulse basis so each is aware of what portion of the spectrum the other is using at any given time. This means that pilots can perform intense radar tasks without risking compromise of the IVEWS to counter adversarial threats.

James Conroy, Vice President of Electronic Warfare and Targeting said, “Dominating the electromagnetic spectrum paves the way for all other operations. In these high-stakes environments, having systems that work together is a significant advantage that allows warfighters to operate safely and effectively in the highly contested airspace of a near-peer fight.”

He added, “We built IVEWS with an ultra-wideband architecture and the onboard power to detect and protect against the most advanced threats. The U.S. and its international partners are encountering these same threats worldwide.”

FMI:  www.northropgrumman.com/